Changing from Gabapentin ti Lyrica

So this is the plan. This means to begin with lowering the gabapentin dose by 300mg every 3 days (I'm on 1800mg at the moment) and then when I'm down to 600mg of gabapentin a day I start to add the pregabalin 75mg to begin with then upping it every 3 days till I reach 300mg a day at the same time still reducing the gabapentin to zero. Hope that makes sense.

Anyway the midday dose today I have taken 300mg instead of the 600mg and everything is feeling bad, so now I'm really concerned about lowering the gabapentin so far with out adding anything.

I really didn't think the gabapentin had been effective apart from stopping the twitches. But just reducing the dosage is making the burning and tingling more intense and cramp in my muscles is much worse as for the face pain around my eye, well I can't think of a word for it. So I guess the gabapentin has actually kept things at the level I started them at.

I have another 7 days to go of reducing the gabapentin before even start to add the Lyrica. I'm very concerned about what I'll be feeling like in a day or two.
Any words of advice.

We have seen this happen quite a lot. Since I'm not versed in brain chemistry, to say the very least, I can only recommend that you call your neuro.

I have heard that when meds are in the same category, a switchover is quite easy--just prescibe the equivalent amount of the new med and take it from there. But I would never recommend that to anyone. So please call your doc.

We have seen this happen quite a lot. Since I'm not versed in brain chemistry, to say the very least, I can only recommend that you call your neuro.

I have heard that when meds are in the same category, a switchover is quite easy--just prescibe the equivalent amount of the new med and take it from there. But I would never recommend that to anyone. So please call your doc.

Ask your dr if this is necessary. I switched last winter cold turkey. Both my neuro and my GP said this was fine. I was also told that the equivalent dose of Lyrica to 1800 mg of gabapentin (which is what I was taking) was 150 mg. So instead of taking 300 mg of gabapentin 6 times a day, I switched (all at once) to 50 mg of pregabalin. After a few months I had to increase my dosage of lyrica and I'm now taking 300 mg of lyrica, plus 900 mg of gabapentin (ended up adding that back in after I got to 300 mg of lyrica and the dr didn't want to go higher, though I have seen the max dosage at between 450 and 600 of pregabalin).

Ask your dr if this is necessary. I switched last winter cold turkey. Both my neuro and my GP said this was fine. I was also told that the equivalent dose of Lyrica to 1800 mg of gabapentin (which is what I was taking) was 150 mg. So instead of taking 300 mg of gabapentin 6 times a day, I switched (all at once) to 50 mg of pregabalin. After a few months I had to increase my dosage of lyrica and I'm now taking 300 mg of lyrica, plus 900 mg of gabapentin (ended up adding that back in after I got to 300 mg of lyrica and the dr didn't want to go higher, though I have seen the max dosage at between 450 and 600 of pregabalin).

Also, my neuro said that the two drugs are metabolized differently (one in kidney and the other in liver) so there's no harm in taking both at once, so I wonder why they want to wean you off one before adding the other.

Also, my neuro said that the two drugs are metabolized differently (one in kidney and the other in liver) so there's no harm in taking both at once, so I wonder why they want to wean you off one before adding the other.

Thanks guys,
The Consultant had indicated it needed to be done with care but did not meantion anything about bringing down the gabapentin before starting the Lyrica . I think I may have to go back to my GP and see if I can persuade him otherwise.
Thanks again

Thanks guys,
The Consultant had indicated it needed to be done with care but did not meantion anything about bringing down the gabapentin before starting the Lyrica . I think I may have to go back to my GP and see if I can persuade him otherwise.
Thanks again

I have fybromyalgia and my doc had me switch from one to the other. i was on 300mg a gabapenton and swithch right over to 75mg of Lyrica. The night of the switch ws horrible. I have pain in arms, legs and chest.
Restless leg and tolal body restlessnass was bad. No sleep and nexr day still in pain. Im nat sure this could happen this fast or maybe i have like a flu or something. any ideas?
GLB
Inidana

I have fybromyalgia and my doc had me switch from one to the other. i was on 300mg a gabapenton and swithch right over to 75mg of Lyrica. The night of the switch ws horrible. I have pain in arms, legs and chest.
Restless leg and tolal body restlessnass was bad. No sleep and nexr day still in pain. Im nat sure this could happen this fast or maybe i have like a flu or something. any ideas?
GLB
Inidana

i was prescribed pregabapentin and at only 50mg twice daily i become so drowsy i was unable to function- so gp weaned me back to 25mgs a day and asked pain clinic to review-- they then changed it to duloxetine which again at only 60mg, i am constantly sleeping and fall asleep anytime of day- he has now added in gabapentin 100mg, with the duloxetine and to increase to three times a day-- from what everybody says, this is about the same as the pregabapentin but with the duloxetine added. i am worried about the effects as i drive as part of my job- and last time become unable to work until it was reduced again. has anyone else had this combination or been so intolerant to these analgesics

i was prescribed pregabapentin and at only 50mg twice daily i become so drowsy i was unable to function- so gp weaned me back to 25mgs a day and asked pain clinic to review-- they then changed it to duloxetine which again at only 60mg, i am constantly sleeping and fall asleep anytime of day- he has now added in gabapentin 100mg, with the duloxetine and to increase to three times a day-- from what everybody says, this is about the same as the pregabapentin but with the duloxetine added. i am worried about the effects as i drive as part of my job- and last time become unable to work until it was reduced again. has anyone else had this combination or been so intolerant to these analgesics

So this is the plan. This means to begin with lowering the gabapentin dose by 300mg every 3 days (I'm on 1800mg at the moment) and then when I'm down to 600mg of gabapentin a day I start to add the pregabalin 75mg to begin with then upping it every 3 days till I reach 300mg a day at the same time still reducing the gabapentin to zero. Hope that makes sense.

Anyway the midday dose today I have taken 300mg instead of the 600mg and everything is feeling bad, so now I'm really concerned about lowering the gabapentin so far with out adding anything.

I really didn't think the gabapentin had been effective apart from stopping the twitches. But just reducing the dosage is making the burning and tingling more intense and cramp in my muscles is much worse as for the face pain around my eye, well I can't think of a word for it. So I guess the gabapentin has actually kept things at the level I started them at.

I have another 7 days to go of reducing the gabapentin before even start to add the Lyrica. I'm very concerned about what I'll be feeling like in a day or two.
Any words of advice.

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